The Best Time of My Life

It is always so great to hear from the young adults that attend The Arc of Katy's Day Camp. I am so pleased to share a blog entry from Day Camp participant Jonathan Johnson, in his own words:


I love coming to Day Camp by the Katy YMCA. I love it when we go to Java Joz. I love bingo. I am hoping one of the prizes will be a movie with the actor Dylan McDermott, who was born in Waterbury, CT. One I really want is the 1994 remake of Miracle on 34th Street, and another is Home for the Holidays, a Jody Foster movie with Dylan in it. I get so excited when it comes time to play bingo. I hope one of the prizes will be a movie with Dylan McDermott. I also like going out to eat, like at Fazoli’s. I like going to the dances. I see some of the attendants of the YMCA’s Day Camp at these dances. I like celebrating birthdays at Day Camp. We eat cake! We also have times when people want to celebrate their birthdays at Times Square Entertainment. I enjoy doing special things, cooking special meals, and having lots of fun in the sun! Remember Terry Jack’s “Seasons in the Sun”? I really enjoy getting the apartment for one week. I have my own space I can retreat to and think about 1994! We say prayers at Day Camp before eating lunch. I really like the Johnny Appleseed prayer. I really like going to the HEB grocery store off of 99 (I think it is 99). We play music in the gym sometimes. One CD I really liked had songs by the Backstreet Boys, N’SYNC, and others. I would like to hear that CD again sometime. I like snack time a lot. I can nourish my special interests at Day Camp, one being Asia. I really enjoy computer time. There is one game I really like that is where the Veggies on Veggie Tales go to a carnival. I wonder where we’ll eat out in March 2009? Other benefits of coming to Day Camp include getting exercise. I am looking forward to Easter at Day Camp. I am looking forward to playing bingo again this week, I think. I believe I am in the best time of my life right now. I have to say that 2009 is a great year so far and counting! I know 2010 will be even better! My name is Jonathan Johnson. I have been attending the [Arc of Katy] Day Program at YMCA’s Day Camp since 2008. I now attend day camp 3 days out of the week. I am typing this blog on March 10 and 11, 2009. I, as of March 2009, attend Day Program 3 days a week, not 8 days a week, like the old Beatles song. I also like music on Wednesdays. One song we do that I really like is “5-Day Blues.” Others are “Beans in my Ears” and “Aiken Drum,” a song about a man that lives in the moon that is made of food. I really like music a lot and it is what I look foreward to on Wednesdays! Tomorrow, we will play bingo and I am really looking forward to it! Bye, 4NOW! But I will be back.

World Down Syndrome Day

Thought this was a great video to watch on this World Down Syndrome Day! :)

I think you will also enjoy the video below.

Check back for an upcoming post from a participant in The Arc of Katy's Adult Day Camp.....coming soon!

Also, to become a follower of Happenings from The Arc of Katy, look for the link to join on the right hand side of this page.

Enjoy your Sunday tomorrow!

Blessings,

Amy

The Gift

Do you have a talent, something that you are just naturally good at? If so, that might be your God given talent....your gift. Have you used that gift, or have you kept it to yourself?

I recently had the sad task of attending the funeral of one of my students with special needs. When this young man was born, his parents were given the unfortunate and heartbreaking news that he would not live for long. Maybe only a few years and if he did survive, he would have many medical problems. Well, against all odds, he did live much longer than expected, just shy of his 18th birthday. And oh how he did use his God given gifts!

Despite being much smaller, lighter, and weaker than other kids his own age, this young man managed to bring forth love, joy, laughter, kindness, care and concern to all he came in contact with. At his funeral the church was filled beyond capacity by all those whose lives he had touched and changed for the better. As I sat and joined in the celebration of his life, I came to the conclusion that I indeed want to be more like him. I pray that I can have that kind of impact for good on others.

The funeral was a celebration of a life well lived and as the minister spoke he reminded us that that our gifts are not for self-consumption, they are for self-expression! I thought to myself of how this sweet young boy understood that concept, and at that moment I was reminded that not only was I one of his teachers, but he was also mine.

One way to experience that kind of love is Join The Arc of Katy and get involved!

Blessings,
Amy

"The generous soul will be made rich. And he who waters will also be watered himself."
Proverbs 11:25

Katy Community working together

If you want to know what Katy, Texas is all about and why it has recently been named the #2 boomtown in the United States, perhaps you should have been at the Katy YMCA Summer Camp facility (Camp Cinco) this past March 1st. One of the many reasons that Katy is so popular is due to the way that the Katy community is just that,.... a community, filled with people that care. On March 1st, hundreds Kingsland Baptist Church members went out all over the Katy community to give back and to help those in need. The Arc of Katy joined in in giving back to the community by working alongside the Kingsland Baptist Church members who came out to help beautify the Katy YMCA's Camp Cinco. Arc of Katy Day Camp participants, teachers, and volunteers raked leaves, hauled away trash, and used wheel barrows of mulch to build up the walking paths in low lying areas that sometimes retain water when it rains. What a wonderful day it turned out to be...true to Texas weather, it started out at near freezing temperatures that morning and warmed up to a sunny 70-75 degrees by noon. It was perfect weather for a succesful day of giving back to the Katy community.

Have a wonderful week and let's be thankful for our wonderful Katy community!

Amy

P.S. The Arc of Katy Day Camp is held at Camp Cinco every Monday - Thursday from 8:00am - 3:00pm during the school year thanks to the generosity of the Katy Family YMCA.